Sunday, June 30, 2019

Why I’ve given up on Putrajaya dealing with Taib

COMMENT | Over the years, I must have written so many articles about Sarawak Governor Abdul Taib Mahmud that I have actually grown tired of it.

I have resigned to the fact that no matter what I or others say or do, my ex-chief minister of 33 years remains “untouchable” even though he is notorious throughout the country and internationally.

People can call him by whatever names, demeaning and insulting even, but Taib couldn’t be bothered. Why bother about suing someone for RM50 million or RM100 million in damages either for defamation or libel? Taib doesn’t need the money. His name has been sullied by his alleged abuse of power by so many for so long so much so that he must be immune to it by now.

If I were Taib, I possibly would go down the same road. Why not? I am holding the exalted office of the Sarawak governor and in all likelihood, I could be in office until the day I draw my last breath. What can my detractors do to me that they have not attempted yet?

I will enjoy the rest of my sunset years, holidaying abroad for nine months in a year with my young wife and a new family, without a care in the world. With my immense wealth, the entire universe is at my feet. I could even sign up for a tourist programme to the moon. Nay, why worry about those paloi Sarawakians! They can never touch me.

So why am I broaching the Taib subject again? Actually, some Malaysiakini readers brought it up when commenting on my column and I thought it might be a good idea to respond.

I have also been ticked off by some, saying that I have been stupid for writing in such glorious terms for Sarawak as if we, Sarawakians, could survive without help from the federal government.

One even said that I have a “chip on my shoulder”. I can accept that all have the right to free speech and that disagreement is part and parcel of it all. But let us all be professional and stay away from personal attacks in our discourses. I am somewhat immune and can accept all sorts of brickbats after four decades in the media industry. But it would be helpful if we stay within the topic under discussion and not stray.

Two readers brought up Taib Mahmud. One said that “Corrupt Sarawak must leave the peninsula. It is burdening the federal government. Shameless Sarawakians!”

Another retorted: “You know why Sarawak should not be independent of Malaysia? Because the moment they leave Malaysia, the crooked politicians will clean up the state coffers and leave nothing to the people. Sarawak is a very rich state, but where has all the wealth gone? Part of it is in Canada”.

I understand the drift and they were not wrong. What they meant was for Sarawakians not to get so big-headed when we can’t even stop the rape of our resources by our very own Sarawakians, notably by someone at the top, his family and his cronies.

Let me respond to my Malayan friends as a Sarawakian who should know the situation better.

I know what is happening in my backyard. I’m also painfully aware that as far as Taib is concerned, we cannot expect help from Putrajaya, at least not for now.

I have given up on Putrajaya acting on this. And why? As long as Dr Mahathir Mohamad is in charge, this will never happen. Our prime minister has already said, “there is no evidence against Taib”.

Attorney-General Tommy Thomas and the just-retired MACC chief commissioner Mohd Shukri Abdull had parroted the prime minister. Not too long ago, de facto law minister Liew Vui Keong brushed aside the purported new finding against Taib by the Swiss-based Bruno Manser Fund, declaring that it was “nothing new”.

For the record, the Movement for Change Sarawak (MoCS), the NGO, had lodged reports against Taib with the MACC and the police in 2011, both in Kuching, Bukit Aman and Putrajaya. We had also petitioned the Yang di-Pertuan Agong not to appoint Taib as governor.

Around that time, then MACC boss Abu Kassim Mohamed announced that a Taib file was opened but we heard nothing of it up to this day. I recall I had asked what happened to the Taib file on a number of occasions.

When a friend recently suggested that MoCS lodge a fresh report with the MACC, this was my reply: “We can lodge one thousand reports but it will be an exercise in futility. One report suffices. I think we should stop wasting our time, hoping against hope that the MACC will act. Because they can’t as long as the old man is still in charge. We have to accept that."

On May 17 last year, just eight days after Pakatan Harapan’s historic victory, I wrote a letterto Mahathir. I have said all there is to say. It has been more than a year since. I do not intend to write another one to the prime minister. He wouldn’t have the time to read it anyway.

I don’t know what else I can do to bring Taib to justice. But there is one thing I do know. Let me repeat this clearly and distinctly.

At the end of it all, it falls upon us, Sarawakians, to deal with Taib in our Sarawakian way. To me, bringing Taib to book does not mean dragging him to court and putting him behind bars like how Putrajaya is adamant about Najib Abdul Razak and his Umno cohorts.

Taib is 83, a very old man. We wouldn’t have the heart to see him rot in prison. What we want is the return of what was taken from Sarawak and its people. The restitution of our wealth is our priority.

And this is what I meant when I said that whatever problems we have in Sarawak, it is best that we, Sarawakians, resolve them ourselves. In Taib’s case, it is clear that we will be getting no help from Putrajaya.

I believe we know how to deal with this in Sarawak. There are many groups in Sarawak, like MoCS, who will be the eyes and ears for Sarawakians. We will be their voice and we will let our voices be heard.

So let me say this to Putrajaya and federal ministers again. If you can’t help us or have no intention to do so, please don’t come to Sarawak and bother us.

FRANCIS PAUL SIAH heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS) and can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com

PETALING JAYA: In an open letter on his social media page, Haziq Abdullah Abdul Aziz (pic) urged Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to be fair in his treatment of the sex video scandal implicating a Cabinet minister.

Haziq, the Santubong PKR Youth chief, who had publicly confessed to being one of the two men in a sex video started by saying that he had been a made a "black sheep" over the scandal.

"The explicit video that has been recorded was an act of treachery and I have been made a black sheep (scapegoat).

"Are Malaysians so narrow minded (cetek) as to think that I would destroy my future and that of my family?" he posted on Facebook on Saturday (June 29), adding that many Malaysians have condemned him over the scandal.

He, however, asked Malaysians for forgiveness, adding that he was a victim in the scandal.

"I hope that Dr Mahathir would be fair in this matter, as my family and I are not rich and it is difficult for us to face the future," he added.

He urged the Prime Minister to do what was best for the country.Don't be stupid like a gullible guppy, Haziq - PM Mahathir normally does the best for himself and his family.

But nonetheless, an authoritative probe is required for such a salacious probing saga. You Haziq, although having experienced probing, will still be probed in the current probing, whilst your alleged probing partner will not be probed even though allegations have it he was already/allegedly probed in "that" probing, or was it he allegedly probed?

Isn't it a wonderful word, 'probe', which can be used as both a verb and a noun (including a gerund eg. probing).

Oh Haziq, while you are being probedby the police (yes yes we heard your probing story that you were probed but then all probing intents and purposes, you might have probed), we suggest you probe your conscience as to why you reveal your probing story of probing and being probed.

Your alleged probing partner won't need to probe his conscience because one can't probe a conscience unless the one to be probed has a conscience for probing.

To probe, or not to probe, that is the question:Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to sufferThe slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles,And by opposing end them: to die, to sleepNo more ... (probing?)

KULIM: The government will return the favour to the people for the mandate they had given to Pakatan Harapan (PH) as the preferred coalition to govern the country at the last general election.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said despite the allegation that nothing was achieved after the PH took over the country’s administration, the facts proved otherwise.

“We have solved many problems left by the previous ruling party and we believe that our country will recover soon.

“We have promised to share the country’s wealth and we have introduced a new policy of shared prosperity ... we will make sure that no one will be left behind,” he said at the national-level Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) Aidilfitri Open House here last night.

Dr Mahathir said the new policy could be realised as long as the people continue to support all the plans lined up by the government.

He has given you Car No 3 (financed by Sil Terra, a subsidiary of Khazanah = public money), clowns as ministers, non-ratification of Rome Statute and ICERD, shameful international relationship for Malaysia, extradition of UN refugee Praphan Pipithnamporn back to Thailand to face wrath of Thailand's horrendous lèse-majesté laws, Zakir Naik for your peace of mind (and possibly lectures on alleged money laundering), more ketuanan Kerbau's, more divisive policies so on so forth.

Compared to the unity between Umno and PAS both for survival and vengeance, PH's component parties appear to be less cohesive when it comes to sharing the power.

Tun Mahathir is attempting to enforce his “divide and rule” strategy to further consolidate his leadership, but such a move will invariably erode mutual trust among the allies and create suspicions.

The sex video scandal, for instance, has entailed all sorts of conspiracy theories, with some suspecting that it was done by people in PPBM with the motive of creating a rift within PKR, while others speculating a plot within PKR itself aimed at stopping economic affairs minister Azmin Ali from becoming prime minister.

Anwar has reiterated that he has faith that Mahathir will hand over the baton to him as promised, but Reuters reported recently quoting an aide to the prime minister that Mahathir was prepared to fulfill his promise, but “if Pakatan Harapan, or the people, want someone else, then that’s different.”

So, does it mean if PH, or the people, want someone else to be PM, then Anwar will not get the chance at all?kaytee notes: Malaysian parliament is of the Westminster model, where the PM is decided by the majority of the House (Dewan Rakyat). Based on Pakatan agreement the majority wishes Anwar Ibrahim to be the succeeding PM

There are many in PPBM who do not really like Anwar Ibrahim.

Supreme council member Rais Yatim insisted that there was no black and white for Anwar to become PM, and said Azmin Ali was Mahathir's favored successor.kaytee notes: As mentioned above, it's not for this 'nobody' to decide, nor shall it be the decision of Mahathir, but the majority of the House. Thus if the majority of the Dewan Rakyat decides on Maszlee (wakakaka) as the next PM, so shall Maszlee be.

wakakaka

So, when will Mahathir hand over the baton? In two years' time? Two to three years' time? Or three years?

There has been no definite timetable. If Mahathir is really serious about preserving the stability of the PH administration, he should have struck an accord with his PH allies and announced a deadline for him to step down in a bid to avert division and unnecessary speculations.If Anwar eventually fails to become PM, then PH has betrayed the people's trust. The PH administration could face an imminent collapse and an early election may have to be called.

PH could very likely succumb to Umno-PAS for reneging on its election pledges and failure to revive the economy and implement the promised institutional reforms.

The future of PH lies with the will of Tun Mahathir.

PH is walking on a tightrope and has created for itself a crisis that could see it plunge to its death, giving Umno-PAS renewed hopes of capturing Putrajaya again.

The Man with The Minus Touch

He destroys(ed) everything he touches eg. Maminco, Mukawasa, FOREX, Perwaja, MAS, BMF, Proton, Memali, Judiciary, Senate, Civil Service, M'sia's international relationships, even UMNO (twice) and who knows, in the near future, Pakatan and eventually Malaysia

Saturday, June 29, 2019

Since our military and police follow their British predecessors in terms of protocol and traditions, I am for and as a start mentioning the British Armed Forces recognition of service and personal accomplishments of individuals while serving as a member of the British Armed Forces with the awarding of various awards and decorations.

Together with rank and qualification badges, such awards are a means to outwardly display the highlights of a service person's career. And since the MACC had been an offshoot of the Royal Malaysian Police, I assume it follows police procedures (and thus British military-police procedures) when wearing awards and decorations.

A side issue, just as a matter of interest, the US military called their awards and decorations which their service people wear on their left chest as the "fruit salad bar." I like this catchy American term so I'll be using "fruit salad bar" regularly in this post to refer to service awards and decorations.The ribbons (or fruit salad bar) represent the actual medals, decorations and awards won. The latter (actual medals cum ribbon) are only worn on the formal official uniform whilst the former (just the "fruit salad bar") would be worn as an part of the daily working uniform (both on the left chest).In short, it can be summarised as (a) miniature medals on dinner dress, (b) full medals on parade dress, (c) ribbons on dress shirts, (d) but no decorations on combat dress and working clothing for the same reason as for regulations regarding display of rank insignia and saluting of more senior ranks, mainly for fear of enemy identification of senior officers.The order of protocol is usually:

(1) gallantry awards (recognition of acts of bravery) first and foremost on the most top right hand end of the 'fruit salad bar', followed by,

former Supt of Police Paul Kiong, an ex-police who fought the communists, showing his Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP), Malaysia's HIGHEST gallantry award for bravery in the face of enemy beyond the call of duty

(4) general service/good conduct awards (eg. 25 years good conduct, etc, with the American military awarding for such achievements as master-sniper, etc) and

(5) foreign awards (UN military campaign, foreign awards, etc).(6) In certain circumstances (eg. US army), some unit awards (any type) are worn as a separate grouping, and on the right side of the chest/uniform, with and without frames.In Britain the first medal or ribbon (most right end top of "fruit salad bar") would be the Victoria Cross.

The VC was introduced on 29 January 1856 by Queen Victoria to honour acts of valour during the Crimean War. Since then, the medal has been awarded 1,358 times to 1,355 individual recipients

Only 15 medals, 11 to members of the British Army, and four to the Australian Army, have been awarded since the Second World War

It is the highest gallantry award the British Empire confers on bravery 'in the presence of enemy', sometimes described as bravery 'beyond the call of duty', and precedes all other medals and ribbons.

On the Queen's (or before her, the King's) birthdays, if the Victoria Cross is to be awarded, it takes precedence in its presentation over all other awards, in other words, the Victoria Cross will be awarded first and foremost (and mentioned first and foremost in the honours list) before the Queen (or King) confers other awards.

The Malaysian equivalent of the British Victoria Cross is the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) but being typical Malaysian we subordinate this most highest of all gallantry awards to the mere Tun-ship. Thus the Tun-ship will be announced/published first, taking precedence over the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) - what a typical Malaysian screw-up and shameful tok' ampu cringe.

Latheefa Beebi was asked this when she appeared in her MACC parade (No 1) uniform.

Malaysiakini reported: Latheefa explained that her uniform does not carry any medals as claimed, but instead bar ribbons mandated for the post, according to the Standing Order of the MACC chief commissioner, Chapter A (Policy) No 1 of 2012.

"(It) directs that a chief commissioner by virtue of his/her position is to wear a certain number of bar ribbons".

I haven't heard of this meaningless uniform decoration unless the mentioned MACC standing order was conceived due to a lack of self confidence or self esteem in a previous MACC Commissioner.

Is Pakatan Harapan committed to human rights?

It’s been more than a year since our “new” government came to power. I was there outside the gates of Istana Negara, alongside thousands of other excited Malaysians, waiting for Dr Mahathir Mohamad to be sworn in as prime minister that May night. There was so much hope and excitement that we had finally turned the page on decades of corruption, the abuse of power and disrespect for human rights.

Mahathir later captured that sense of excitement and hope in his UN speech when he said that Malaysians want a nation that “will firmly espouse” the principles promoted by the UN including “truth, human rights, the rule of law, justice, fairness.” And then he gave a pledge to an admiring world that the new government of Malaysia would “ratify all remaining core UN instruments related to the protection of human rights”.

What a disappointing year it has been! Hope is now turning to despair. Today, it’s hard to even imagine that some of these Pakatan Harapan (PH) politicians were the same ones who campaigned last year on a platform of democratic transformation.

During the election campaign (and in its manifesto), PH politicians repeatedly pledged to repeal oppressive, anti-democratic legislation that had been introduced over the years essentially to keep Umno-BN in power. Several PH politicians were themselves victimised and incarcerated by Umno-BN under these laws.

It didn’t take them long, however, to renege on these promises. In office, they suddenly became defenders of the very laws they once opposed. Even Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo, once fearless in his opposition against all things undemocratic, became a defender of the status quo. He was quoted as saying (in January this year) that the government chose to lift a freeze on several controversial security laws because there is “concern over the threat to national security, public order and race relations.”

How many times have we heard Umno-BN politicians offer the same excuses to justify laws that ought to have no place in any democracy worthy of its name?

Of course, Umno like, he also sought to reassure the public that the government will only use these laws “in exceptional” cases, but don’t these PH politicians realise that the issue is about putting an end to such anti-democratic legislation so that no government, present or future, will ever be able to terrorise the people again the way Umno-BN did?

And enough has been said about their spineless retreat on ICERD and ICC. So much for solemn pledges.

Earlier this week, we were also treated to yet another example of our new government’s utter disdain for human rights and justice. After stonewalling and dragging their feet for months, the home minister finally announced the formation of a rather nebulous “task force” to look into the enforced disappearances of Amri Che Mat and Pastor Raymond Koh.

Shockingly, the task force was stacked heavy with former police and government officials despite the fact that the Suhakam enquiry clearly implicated the police in the disappearances. There wasn’t even the pretence of impartiality and independence. Even the choice to head the task force immediately set off alarm bells.

And yet the prime minister summarily dismissed these concerns with an offhand remark that “we cannot please everyone.” It’s not about pleasing anyone; it’s about meeting minimum standards of justice, impartiality and integrity without which any investigation is meaningless.

Is this an effort to bury the truth or uncover it? If the families of Amri and Koh can’t find justice in Malaysia Baru, all the talk about reform and change means nothing.

PETALING JAYA: The National Patriot Association (Patriot) today joined the chorus of criticism against the composition of the Special Task Force to investigate the disappearances of Pastor Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat.

Patriot president BG (Rtd) Datuk Mohamed Arshad Raji (pix) questioned the rationale of setting up a task force when the Suhakam fact finding committee, led by Dato Mah Weng Kwai, had spent 18 months in a painstaking enquiry before coming to the conclusion that the disappearances of Pastor Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat was the result of forced disappearance.

“That decision was announced on April 3. Now, nearly three months later, the Minister of Home Affairs just announced the formation of a Special Task Force to investigate the disappearance of the missing persons,“ he said.

Arshad said there appeared to be procrastination and lack of will from the part of the authorities to bring to a closure, cases on forced disappearances of persons, and that the Cabinet must act accordingly if the ministry fails to bring to task the perpetrators.

“Patriot expects the Minister of Home Affairs to act decisively and bring to books the culprits responsible for the forced disappearance of persons, irrespective of their position and rank. If the minister fails to do so, then it is incumbent upon the Cabinet to act accordingly. No more procrastination.

“Malaysians as a whole want a fast closure to this case. There should be no more feet dragging. Our nation has so much to do, like putting in order economic issues to prepare for an imminent world economic downturn and the hardship to come,“ he added.

He also said that the composition of the Special Task Force Members does inspire confidence of the people.

[...]

Koh’s wife, Susanna Liew, claimed the government had ignored the family’s suggestion to have in the task force representatives from the Bar Council, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and an NGO.

Civil rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), meanwhile, said the presence of police personnel in the task force is absurd.

“The establishment of the task force is intended to bring perpetrators that orchestrated the disappearance of these individuals to justice,” Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy said in a statement.

“The task force should comprise independent individuals and experts that could uncover the hidden truths behind the disappearance of the two individuals and ensure justice is done for the victims and their family.”

The Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances (CAGED) also expressed displeasure at the absence of the terms of reference of the task force.

The fact that his party – Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) – commands almost the equal share of ministry portfolios among the 4 partners in the ruling coalition, despite being a minority party, was already impressive.

WTF?!

After the historic May 9th win, Anwar’s party (PKR – People’s Justice Party) possessed the lion’s share of 47 parliamentary seats, while DAP (Democratic Action Party) grabbed 42. Mahathir’s PPBM (Malaysian United Indigenous Party) won only 13 seats and Amanah (National Trust Party) managed 11 seats, giving the Pakatan Harapan coalition the required 113 simple majority.Sure, Mahathir was sworn in as the country’s 7th Prime Minister of Malaysia primarily because all the component parties had agreed to the arrangement. Another factor was due to the fact that there is no dominant party with super majority seats in the coalition. Still, after Anwar was granted a full pardon by the Agong (King) and released from prison, he can kick Mahathir out of the government.

There were strong rumours that Anwar Ibrahim was plotting to partner with either UMNO Malay nationalist party (which was dethroned for the first time in 61 years) or PAS Islamist party or both so that he can instantly grab power. After all, how hard could it be to replace Mahathir’s 13 seats party? Anwar’s advisers believed Mahathir might play him again like in 1998.Mahathir easily checkmated Anwar, pampered PKR Deputy President Azmin Ali with a very powerful portfolio – a specially created Minister of Economic Affairs. The divide and conquer tactic has essentially split PKR into half. To ensure DAP and ethnic Chinese loyalty to his premiership, Mahathir rewarded them with 6 ministers, including the powerful Minister of Finance.After ensuring stability and no rebellion within the Pakatan Harapan ruling coalition, Mahathir proceeded to break up the opposition Barisan Nasional coalition. Out of 79 parliamentary seats initially won by the old regime, UMNO alone had in its possession 54 seats. Like a skillful sushi chef, Mahathir skinned Barisan’s so-called fixed-deposit Sarawak Barisan Nasional.

About a month after its humiliating defeat, the extremely corrupt Barisan was shocked when it lost 19 parliamentary seats in June. All the Sarawak parties – PBB, SUPP, PRS, and PDP – abandoned the coalition. Including UPKO (1), PBS (1) and PBRS (1), the Barisan was reduced from 79 to 57. The once arrogant former Deputy PM Zahid Hamidi was reportedly begged the Sarawak Chief Minister not to quit, but to no avail.It was not a coincidence that Sarawak former Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud’s party PBB, the biggest in the state with 13 parliamentary seats, launched the rebellion after his meeting with PM Mahathir and Daim Zainuddin. In exchange for not investigating Taib’s decades of corruption and illegal logging, Mahathir single-handedly took away Barisan’s fixed-deposit.UMNO plunged into disarray almost instantly. Its self-proclaimed 3-million members were running around like a headless chicken. From a mighty coalition of 13 component parties, the Barisan Nasional is now reduced to just 3 parties.With MCA and MIC holding 1 seat each (after MIC’s Cameron Highland was declared null and void), the coalition was reduced to 56 seats.

But the slaughtering has just begun. With UMNO members already disillusioned and demoralised by their clueless president Zahid, Mahathir didn’t have to do any heavy lifting. Like it or not, the old man was a master strategist. [...]At least 32 UMNO MPs have allegedly switched loyalty to Mahathir Mohamad. If that happens, UMNO would be crippled with only 11 MPs left, presumably the most toxic and unacceptable even to the “garbage collector” Mahathir. The PPBM now possesses 16 MPs, up from 13 after three UMNO MPs jumped ship earlier on.If Mahathir’s PPBM decides to accept all the 32 UMNO frogs, it would be boosted with a whopping 48 MPs, just second to Anwar PKR’s 50 MPs. To be fair to him, the prime minister did not say all of UMNO MPs will definitely be accepted. They must first become independent or Pakatan-friendly. This is important because the frogs can be used to initiate institutional reforms.

Yes, as a 13 MPs small “mosquito party”, as previously mocked and insulted by former Tourism and Culture Minister and UMNO warlord Nazri Aziz, it’s incredible that Mahathir could control the 222-seat government. Even without the 32 UMNO frogs, the 19 (Sarawak) and 5 (Sabah) respective friendly votes means Pakatan has 146 votes, just 2 seats shy of two-thirds majority.

Friday, June 28, 2019

What’s happening with the PH govt?

The opposition in Malaysia today is in a pathetic state. With so many of them under investigation or charged with corruption, I think they are in the least position to monitor the government’s actions and performance.

For those not under investigation, it is unfortunate that many of them are wallowing in their own religious and racial utopia to be of any use to the people. They would prefer to stay in their own cocoon than to be concerned with substantive matters affecting public policies and the well-being of the people.

Because of opposition’s apathy and the absence of vociferous voices like in the past when Barisan Nasional (BN) was in power, I can almost sense that the new government is regressing quickly. There is a general lack of impetus to handle pressing national issues. Everything is lackadaisical, lethargic and lacking a sense of urgency.

Just take a look at the pollution in Johor and other parts of the country. I would have expected the new government to be much more resolute and effective in handling this problem than in the past. But I see no difference compared with the attitude of the previous government.

The same goes with the way we handle Lynas. It was a big election issue but since then this problem has gradually withered. Does the new government have a new perspective of this problem? If so, can we hear more about it? I believe public safety and interest should take precedence over strategic and profit considerations.

What about the endless landslides? Should we rename Penang “Landslide Island”? Again, with the federal and state governments under the same coalition, I would expect better coordination and higher ethical and compliance standards all around. Thus far, it has been one disappointment after another.

What about disorderly and high-density development? Have we discerned any significant change in this regard? Have we seen less of vested interest groups taking precedence over public interests? We were very unforgiving of the BN government when it came to haphazard development. I hope we can impose the same standards for the present government.

Then we have high-profile cases such as Teoh Beng Hock, Pastor Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat which have remained unresolved. Before the election, most people were of the view that these cases would never see the light of day if BN remained in power. Now we have a new government, but I think the feeling of déjà vu has come back to haunt us all over again. We have probes over probes with nothing much to show.

Maybe I am just a simpleton – I always thought that if we had a new home minister, a new IGP, a new MACC chief and a new AG, we would be able to solve all the “unsolvable” cases. I think I was being naïve.

Even for the schoolgirl caning case, should the parties involved just meet and make up, pretending that nothing happened? What problem resolution is this? I don’t think it is so simple. There are rules and regulations and there are consequences of one’s actions. What if similar cases happen in the future? What precedence shall we use?

However, he said that the government is maintaining its refusal to deport the controversial preacher, a Saudi citizen with Malaysian permanent resident status.

“We received the application from the Indian government, I don’t remember when.

“For now, there is no new decision. We are sticking to the original decision,” he was quoted as saying by the Free Malaysia Today portal.

India’s Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) secured a warrant for Dr Zakir’s arrest after filing money laundering charges against him, before saying it will seek his extradition from Malaysia.

A special Indian court for the country’s Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) then ordered the preacher to present himself there to stand trial.

would you like more mare's milk?after all, I have 40 horses

KT notes: Malaysia has an extradition treaty with India so how can we violate an international treaty as if it was written on kertas jamban?

But WTF am I talking about when Mahathir had already violated the international treaty signed on 02 December 1989, signed and ratified by Malaysia, Thailand and the CPM, known as The Peace Agreement of Hat Yai (1989). More than 330 former CPM members, mostly Malays, have been allowed to resettle in Malaysia.

But up until today, Ong Boon Haw (Chin Peng) or his cremated ashes, yes just cremated ashes, has NOT been allowed to re-enter Malaysia to be interred in Sitiawan, the late CPM leader's birthplace, in total violation of the Hat Yai Peace Agreement.

On extradition, we should also note Mahathir's hypocritical stance when he said Malaysia was being a good neighbour when it sent Praphan Pipithnamporn back to the grasping claws of the ultra pro monarchy Thai authorities, a nation with some of the world's toughest lese majeste laws, despite Ms Praphan being an asylum seeker registered with the UNHCR.

Praphan Pipithnamporn

The pharisaical dictator had the brazen thick skin to say of Praphan's deportation, "If there is a request, then we will send back. (We are a) good neighbour," but has now obdurately refused to extradite an alleged criminal back to India while he had deported a UM refugee to Thailand without any conscience.

Dr Zakir has refused to do so unless he is given a written guarantee that he will be allowed to remain free barring a conviction.

However, DAP lawmaker Ramkarpal Singh has disputed this by saying the circumstances differed as Australian law prevented the country from extraditing a person to where he may be put to death; Sirul was given the death sentence here for the murder.

Mahathir with Thai convicted-jailed blackmailer Justo Xavier, released in a Thai royal amnesty in conjunction with the death of the (previous) Thai King

Kaytee notes: As mentioned Mahathir is a pharisaical dictator without any conscience, so expect him to pretend not to know what's the difference between the case of an alleged money launderer-cum-seditious agitator Zakir Naik and that of convicted murderer Sirul, ...

... or a convicted and jailed blackmailer in Thailand like Justo Xavier (with whom he had warmly welcomed, met 4 times and who like Zakir Naik is settling down in Malaysia) with a UN refugee like Praphan Pipithnamporn, ...

... and to deliberately confuse the issue vis-a-vis the Malaysian public as he has been doing so for well over 30 years.

What human rights has he the nerve to talk in favour of Zakir Naik when he refused to ratify ICERD and the Rome Statute, and also made racist comments against 'hooked nose' Jews?

Dr Zakir has evaded Indian authorities since 2016 when files were opened against him for allegedly making hate speeches and laundering money after five militants launched an attack at a bakery in Dhaka, Bangladesh that ended with 29 dead.

One of the attackers reportedly to have been inspired by the preacher’s speeches.

Locally, Dr Zakir has been accused of denigrating other faiths and being a threat to Malaysia’s multi-ethnic and multicultural harmony.

Mahathir with alleged Indian money-launderer Zakir Naik

The worst part has been the silence of Pakatan Coalition members like PKR and DAP, with some rare exceptions like Ramkarpal Singh, Sangeet Deo and Dr Ramasamy.

While I can understand Amanah's and Muslims' reluctance to comment on Zakir Naik's extradition, I cannot the deafening silence of normal loudmouths Lim Kit Siang, his son Guan Eng, Teo Nie Ching and Tian Chua.

All these boe-hood blokes and Teo Nie Ching, wakakaka, are only noisy on useless or deliberately distracting issues. When it comes to the crunch, they remain silent like mice.

It's their silence which has given Mahathir the impression he can do what he likes, and indeed he can do what he likes in the face of boe-hood people.

About Me

Just a bloke interested in the socio-political whatnots around the world, particularly those in Malaysia. Loves a laugh or/and story or two, or more, but loves civility and courtesy much more, especially in politics